COVID-19 in Quebec: What you need to know this weekend

• Quebec reported 612new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday and three new deaths.
• Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 415,787confirmed casesand11,415people have died.
• There are 296people in hospital (a decreaseof one),including 80 in intensive care(a decrease of four).
• The province has administered12,993,810doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, including 16,094in the last 24 hours.
• 90 per cent of the eligible population in the province (age 12 and up) hasreceived one dose of vaccine, and 85per cent hasreceived two doses.

Note:Quebec'sHealth Ministry does not publishthe number of vaccine doses administered over the weekend.

Health Minister Christian Dub has a message for medical professionals who think they can skip a COVID-19 vaccine and keep working.

He's asking professional associations to suspend their licenses if they aren't immunized.

Dub wantsthe orders that licensehealth-care professionals, such as nurses and respiratory therapists, to follow the lead of the college of physicians and suspend the permits of anyone who isn't fully vaccinated.

"People who think they will go practise elsewhere [outside the public system] will be in for a surprise," Dub said on Friday.

As of Oct.15,all front-line health care workers in Quebec must be fully vaccinatedor they will be suspended without pay.

Fourth wave slowing down

Canada's leading physician says the fourth wave of COVID-19 appears to be backing off.

Dr. Theresa Tam says the pandemic doesn't appear to be in a growth pattern for the first time since July.

Heading into Thanksgiving however, Tam is telling people to only gather indoors with family and friends who've been fully vaccinated.

"Previously, we have seen surges in cases after these holiday events," Tam said."So this year, with the vaccine on board, I think we should be on a better, more solid footing."

The Public Health Agency of Canada is warningof the risk of another surge later in the fall and winter if basic protective measures such as masksand physical distancing are not maintained.

More than 1,000 full-time nurses recruited

Quebec has recruited some 1,007nurses to work full time in the public health system after announcing emergency financial incentives to recruit health-care workers.

On Thursday,Health Minister Christian Dub said he feels encouraged by the numbers despite still falling short of his goal of recruiting 4,300 full-time nurses.

So far, 231 nurses have left the private sector to join the public network, Dub said,and 1,900 candidates are currently in negotiations.As well, 56 retired nurses are coming in to help.

Meanwhile, Dub says the province will remain firm on enforcing mandatory vaccinations for all health-workers as of Oct. 15 at the risk of losing even more employees in both the private and public networks.

No exemptions will be given to employees for religious reasons.

As of Oct. 6, 25,000 health-care workers were not fully vaccinated and may face sanctions if they don't get the jab in time. Out of those employees, 15,000 have not received their first dose.

Top COVID-19 stories

• ICU staff battle patients' regret, denial and mistrustduring Quebec's 4th wave
• More than 17,000 Quebec health-care workers face suspension for refusing COVID-19 vaccine.
• Quebec passes law to make protesting outside schools, hospitals and vaccinations sites illegal
• Groups say Quebec's bonus pay for nurses won't solve staffing crisis.